Target Hits a Q4 Omnichannel Home Run

| Mike O'Brien

Target, one of the clear retail winners in the pandemic era, posted another impressive quarter, with Q4 revenue, earnings and comparable sales outpacing projections and its omnichannel strategy firing on all cylinders as it reported a $9 billion gain in market share based on internal and market research.

A Peek into 2020 Peak: Fulfilling the Promise of Omnichannel

| Zach Thomann

Coming after a year of economic contraction and retail disruption, the 2020 peak holiday season threatened to be brutal on retailers. While some retailers had exceptional results, operational challenges limited opportunities. See what a recent study revealed about the impact of pre-peak investments on reducing capability gaps.

Omnichannel operations are the future of brick-and-mortar and DTC retail.

ecommerce fulfillment pallet on keyboard feature

10 Ecommerce Fulfillment Trends to Pursue in 2021

| Perry Belcastro

The past year has redefined how Americans shop. Ecommerce, BOPIS and curbside are table stakes, and free shipping is expected. What exactly does that mean for ecommerce fulfillment operations? Now more than ever, they must be strategic, sophisticated and responsive. Here are 10 key areas to pursue in 2021.

Will Dark Stores Outlast the Pandemic?

| Mike Chou

Dark stores, even as a temporarily approach, can help offset the cost of underperforming stores and the expense of freight and logistics, especially in more densely populated areas. It also takes online fulfillment out of store operations, allowing retailers to concentrate on customer service and minimizing inventory confusion.

Multichannel Retailers: How to Effect Real Change

| Matthew Carroll

Beyond the holiday rush, multichannel retailers can’t afford to be short-sighted, ignoring the paradigm shift in consumer purchasing behavior that will extend long after the pandemic is over. If they aren’t looking at long-term investments to create hybrid customer experiences, they will soon find themselves way behind the pack.

MCM CommerceChat podcast

Omnichannel in 2021: What to Expect

| Mike O'Brien

Whether we see a reduction of the pandemic in 2021 (hold breath here), the retail landscape has been forever changed and omnichannel is locked in. How will retailers continue to adapt in a very challenging environment? We talked to Dave Cesaro, executive director of client strategy at Valassis, to get his thoughts on what to expect.

curbside pickup sign omnichannel

Pandemic Highlights Omnichannel Shortcomings

| Mike O'Brien

The ability to delivery a high-quality omnichannel experience has never been more critical than during the post-pandemic era, but most brands aren’t prepared to meet consumer expectations, according to a report from NewStore. Not surprisingly, providing safety and convenience were atop the list of winning practices cited.

Leveraging Data in Supply Chain Management’s New Normal

| Andrew Tunstall

From suppliers to logistics providers to manufacturers and retailers, the extended supply chain is pursuing omnichannel connectivity in an effort to deliver innovative customer experiences, streamline operations, reduce costs and improve flexibility and resiliency. But packaged commercial OTS software and data silos won’t cut it.

Bridging the Ecommerce-Store Experience Gap

| Shashin Shah

While ecommerce offers clear advantages like the ability to read reviews, use mobile payments, choose the perfect size and color, check availability and more, physical stores still have the edge of personal interactions.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to bridge the physical-digital commerce gap.